Camera with folded optics having moveable lens

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Some embodiments include suspension arrangements.

This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/615,824, filed on Jan. 10, 2018, titled “Camera withFolded Optics Having Moveable Lens,” which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to architecture for a camera withfolded optics and lens shifting capabilities.

Description of the Related Art

The advent of small, mobile multipurpose devices such as smartphones andtablet or pad devices has resulted in a need for high-resolution, smallform factor cameras for integration in the devices. Some small formfactor cameras may incorporate optical image stabilization (OIS)mechanisms that may sense and react to external excitation/disturbanceby adjusting location of the optical lens on the X and/or Y axis in anattempt to compensate for unwanted motion of the lens. Some small formfactor cameras may incorporate an autofocus (AF) mechanism whereby theobject focal distance can be adjusted to focus an object plane in frontof the camera at an image plane to be captured by the image sensor. Insome such autofocus mechanisms, the optical lens is moved as a singlerigid body along the optical axis of the camera to refocus the camera.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example camera with a foldedoptics arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of 3-axis movement of a lens group withina folded optics arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an example camera with a foldedoptics arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments. The camera ofFIG. 3 includes an example actuator arrangement for shifting a lensgroup of the camera along three axes, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the example camera ofFIG. 3, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an example suspensionarrangement for a camera with a folded optics arrangement, in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 6A illustrates a perspective view of another example suspensionarrangement for a camera with a folded optics arrangement, in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example brace connecting two suspension wiresthat may be used in a suspension arrangement for a camera with a foldedoptics arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7C each illustrate a respective view of yet another examplesuspension arrangement for a camera with a folded optics arrangement, inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 7A shows a top view of thesuspension arrangement. FIG. 7B shows a top detail view of a cornerportion of the suspension arrangement of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C shows aperspective detail view of a corner portion of the suspensionarrangement of FIG. 7A.

FIGS. 8A-8D each illustrate a respective view of an example actuatorarrangement for 3-axis shifting of a lens group within a folded opticsarrangement of a camera, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 8Ashows a perspective view of the actuator arrangement. FIG. 8B shows aside cross-sectional view of the actuator arrangement. FIG. 8C shows afront cross-sectional view of the actuator arrangement. FIG. 8D shows aperspective view of magnets and coils of the actuator arrangement.

FIGS. 9A-9C each illustrate a respective schematic view of an exampleactuator arrangement for 3-axis shifting of a lens group within a foldedoptics arrangement of a camera, in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 9A shows a schematic side view of the actuator arrangement. FIG. 9Bshows a schematic top view of the actuator arrangement. FIG. 9C shows aschematic cross-sectional view of the actuator arrangement.

FIGS. 10A-10C each illustrate a respective schematic view of anotherexample actuator arrangement for 3-axis shifting of a lens group withina folded optics arrangement of a camera, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 10A shows a schematic side view of the actuatorarrangement. FIG. 10B shows a schematic top view of the actuatorarrangement. FIG. 10C shows a schematic cross-sectional view of theactuator arrangement.

FIGS. 11A-11C each illustrate a respective schematic view of yet anotherexample actuator arrangement for 3-axis shifting of a lens group withina folded optics arrangement of a camera, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 11A shows a schematic side view of the actuatorarrangement. FIG. 11B shows a schematic top view of the actuatorarrangement. FIG. 11C shows a schematic cross-sectional view of theactuator arrangement.

FIGS. 12A-12C each illustrate a respective schematic view of still yetanother example actuator arrangement for 3-axis shifting of a lens groupwithin a folded optics arrangement of a camera, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 12A shows a schematic side view of the actuatorarrangement. FIG. 12B shows a schematic top view of the actuatorarrangement. FIG. 12C shows a schematic cross-sectional view of theactuator arrangement.

FIGS. 13A-13C each illustrate a respective schematic view of still yetanother example actuator arrangement for 3-axis shifting of a lens groupwithin a folded optics arrangement of a camera, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 13A shows a schematic side view of the actuatorarrangement. FIG. 13B shows a schematic top view of the actuatorarrangement. FIG. 13C shows a schematic cross-sectional view of theactuator arrangement.

FIGS. 14A and 14B each illustrate a respective perspective view of anexample camera with a folded optics arrangement, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 14A shows a perspective view of the camera with ashield can covering at least a portion of the internal components of thecamera. FIG. 14B shows a perspective view of the camera without theshield covering the internal components.

FIG. 15 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an example camerawith a folded optics arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of an example method for assembling a camerawith a folded optics arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of a portable multifunction devicethat may include a camera with a folded optics arrangement, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 18 depicts a portable multifunction device that may include acamera with a folded optics arrangement, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example computer system that may include a camerawith a folded optics arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments.

This specification includes references to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment.” The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “inan embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.Particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inany suitable manner consistent with this disclosure.

“Comprising.” This term is open-ended. As used in the appended claims,this term does not foreclose additional structure or steps. Consider aclaim that recites: “An apparatus comprising one or more processor units. . . ” Such a claim does not foreclose the apparatus from includingadditional components (e.g., a network interface unit, graphicscircuitry, etc.).

“Configured To.” Various units, circuits, or other components may bedescribed or claimed as “configured to” perform a task or tasks. In suchcontexts, “configured to” is used to connote structure by indicatingthat the units/circuits/components include structure (e.g., circuitry)that performs those task or tasks during operation. As such, theunit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to perform the taskeven when the specified unit/circuit/component is not currentlyoperational (e.g., is not on). The units/circuits/components used withthe “configured to” language include hardware—for example, circuits,memory storing program instructions executable to implement theoperation, etc. Reciting that a unit/circuit/component is “configuredto” perform one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, for that unit/circuit/component.Additionally, “configured to” can include generic structure (e.g.,generic circuitry) that is manipulated by software and/or firmware(e.g., an FPGA or a general-purpose processor executing software) tooperate in manner that is capable of performing the task(s) at issue.“Configure to” may also include adapting a manufacturing process (e.g.,a semiconductor fabrication facility) to fabricate devices (e.g.,integrated circuits) that are adapted to implement or perform one ormore tasks.

“First,” “Second,” etc. As used herein, these terms are used as labelsfor nouns that they precede, and do not imply any type of ordering(e.g., spatial, temporal, logical, etc.). For example, a buffer circuitmay be described herein as performing write operations for “first” and“second” values. The terms “first” and “second” do not necessarily implythat the first value must be written before the second value.

“Based On.” As used herein, this term is used to describe one or morefactors that affect a determination. This term does not forecloseadditional factors that may affect a determination. That is, adetermination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least inpart, on those factors. Consider the phrase “determine A based on B.”While in this case, B is a factor that affects the determination of A,such a phrase does not foreclose the determination of A from also beingbased on C. In other instances, A may be determined based solely on B.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed asecond contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a firstcontact, without departing from the intended scope. The first contactand the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the samecontact.

The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting. As used in the description and the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willalso be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to andencompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms“includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon”or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” dependingon the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [astated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upondetermining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [thestated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the statedcondition or event],” depending on the context.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments include camera equipment outfitted with controls,magnets, and voice coil motors to improve the effectiveness of aminiature actuation mechanism for a compact camera module. Morespecifically, in some embodiments, compact camera modules includeactuators to deliver functions such as autofocus (AF) and/or opticalimage stabilization (OIS). One approach to delivering a very compactactuator for AF and/or OIS is to use a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks havenot been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspectsof the embodiments.

Described here are folded optics arrangements for providing areduced-height imaging system. The arrangements discussed throughoutgenerally comprise one or more lenses positioned between two light pathfolding elements, which collectively provides a dual-folded light path.The one or more lenses may be moveable between the light path foldingelements to provide autofocus and/or image stabilization during imaging.FIG. 1 shows a generalized example of a camera 100 with a folded opticsarrangement. The example X-Y-Z coordinate system shown in FIG. 1 is usedto discuss aspects of systems and/or system components, and may apply toembodiments described throughout this disclosure.

In various embodiments, the camera 100 may include a lens group 102, afirst prism 104, a second prism 106, and an image sensor package 108.The lens group 102 may include one or more lens elements. In someembodiments, the lens group 102 may be located between the first prism104 and the second prism 106, forming the folded optics arrangement.Light may follow an optical path 110 that is folded by the first prism104 such that the light is directed towards the lens group 102, passesthrough the lens group 102, and is folded by the second prism 106 suchthat the light is directed towards the image sensor package 108. In someexamples, light may enter an object side of the first prism 104 alongthe Z-axis. The first prism 104 may redirect the light to propagatealong the X-axis (which may be parallel to an optical axis defined bythe lens group 102) towards the lens group 102. The second prism 106 mayredirect the light to propagate along the Z-axis (which may beorthogonal to a plane defined by the image sensor package 108), e.g.,such that the light exits an image side of the second prism 106 towardsthe image sensor package 108. The first prism 104, the lens group 102,and/or the second prism 106 may be positioned along a common axis (e.g.,the X-axis, the optical axis defined by the lens group 102, etc.).According to some examples, the optical path 110 may be contained withina plane (e.g., the X-Z plane), and the image sensor package 108 mayextend along a different plane (e.g., the X-Y plane).

In some embodiments, the object side of the first prism 104 may extendalong the X-Y plane. Furthermore, the first prism 104 may include a pairof opposing lateral sides that each extend along the X-Z plane, a lensgroup facing side that extends along the Y-Z plane, and a reflectingsurface side that is angled relative to one or more of the other sidesof the first prism 104. For example, the reflecting surface side of thefirst prism 104 may include a reflective surface that is angled so as toredirect light received from the object side of the first prism 104towards the lens group 102 (via the lens group facing side of the firstprism 104), as discussed above.

In some embodiments, the image side of the second prism 106 may extendalong the X-Y plane, e.g., proximate the image sensor package 108.Furthermore, the second prism 106 may include a pair of opposing lateralsides that each extend along the X-Z plane, a lens group facing sidethat extends along the Y-Z plane, and a reflecting surface side that isangled relative to one or more of the other sides of the second prism106. For example, the reflecting surface side of the second prism 106may include a reflective surface that is angled so as to redirect lightreceived from the lens group 102 (via the lens group facing side of thesecond prism 106) towards the image sensor package (via the image sideof the second prism 106), as discussed above.

While the light path folding elements are shown in various figures ascomprising prisms (e.g., the first prism 104 and the second prism 106),the camera systems and/or folded optics arrangements described hereinmay include any suitable light path folding element (e.g., a mirror orthe like) or combination of elements. In some embodiments, one or moreof the light path folding elements may also act as a lens element (orcombination of lens elements). For example, one or more lens elements(e.g., other than those of the lens group 102) may be integrated withthe first prism 104 (and/or the second prism 106) such that the prismacts as a lens element. Additionally, or alternatively, the first prism104 (and/or the second prism 106) may be shaped such that the prism actsas a lens element.

As will be discussed in further detail below, the lens group 102 may becoupled with an actuator structure that is configured to move the lensgroup 102 along multiple axes, e.g., to provide autofocus (AF) and/oroptical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. FIG. 2 shows an exampleof 3-axis movement of the lens group 102 to provide AF and/or OISfunctionality. For example, the lens group 102 may be shifted (e.g., byan actuator structure, such as the actuator structures/arrangementsdiscussed in further detail below) along the X-axis to provide AFmovement. Additionally, or alternatively, the lens group 102 may beshifted along the Z-axis to provide OIS-X movement (e.g., movement thatshifts the image projected on the image sensor package 108 in one ormore directions parallel to the X-axis). Additionally, or alternatively,the lens group 102 may be shifted along the Y-axis to provide OIS-Ymovement (e.g., movement that shifts the image projected on the imagesensor package 108 in one or more directions parallel to the Y-axis).Components of the camera 100 (e.g., the lens group 102, the first prism104, the second prism 106, and/or the image sensor package 108, etc.)may be used with any of the actuator arrangements described in thefollowing figures.

As mentioned above, the camera systems described here may comprise anactuator system to move the lens group relative to the light pathfolding elements (e.g., the first prism 104 and the second prism 106).The actuator arrangements described here may generally comprise a frame(e.g., the carrier structure discussed below), one or more suspensionstructures for moveably holding the frame relative to the rest of thecamera, and an actuator module for controlling movement of the frame.FIGS. 3 and 4 show perspective and side cross-sectional views of onesuch variation, and include an example camera 300 with a folded opticsarrangement in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the camera 300 may include a lens group 302, afirst prism 304, and a second prism 306, and an image sensor 308. Thelens group 302 may include one or more lens elements 310 disposed withina lens holder 312.

In various embodiments, the camera 300 may include an actuator module314 that provides for shifting the lens group 302 along multiple axes,e.g., to provide AF and/or OIS movement. In some embodiments, theactuator module 314 may comprise a voice coil motor (VCM) actuatormodule that includes one or more VCM actuators, e.g., as shown in FIGS.3 and 4.

In some examples, the actuator module 314 may include a carrierstructure 316 and a fixed base structure 318. According to someembodiments, the carrier structure 316 may be attached to the lens group302. In some examples, the carrier structure 316 may be attached to thelens group 302, and movement of the carrier structure 316 (e.g., due toactuation of one or more actuators of the actuator module 314) may causemovement of the lens group 302, such that the lens group 302 movestogether with the carrier structure 316.

In various embodiments, the carrier structure 316 may extend around thefirst prism 304, the lens group 302, and the second prism 306, e.g., asshown in FIG. 3. The carrier structure 316 may define a periphery withinwhich at least a respective portion of each of the first prism 304, thelens group 302, and the second prism 306 are disposed. The carrierstructure 316 may have multiple sides. For example, the carrierstructure 316 may have a first side, a second side, a third side, and afourth side. The first side may be a lateral side extending along theX-axis and along the side surfaces of the optical elements. The secondside may be a lateral side extending along the X-axis and along theopposite side surfaces of the optical elements. The third side may be adistal/object side extending along the Y-axis, and may be positionedbehind at least a portion of the reflecting surface side of the firstprism 104 (e.g., such that the first prism 104 is disposed between thelens group 102 and the carrier structure 316). The fourth side may be aproximal/image side extending along the Y-axis, and may be positioned infront of at least a portion of the reflecting surface side of the secondprism 106 (e.g., such that the second prism 106 is disposed between thelens group 102 and the carrier structure 316). While FIGS. 3 and 4 showthe carrier structure 316 encircling the optical elements of the foldedoptics arrangement (e.g., the first prism 304, the lens group 302, andthe second prism 306), it is understood that the carrier structure 316may partially encircle the optical elements in some embodiments. As anon-limiting example, one of the sides of the carrier structure 316 maycomprise two parts that are spaced apart from each other by a gap, sothat the carrier structure 316 partially encircles the optical elements.As another non-limiting example, the carrier structure 316 may comprisethree sides (e.g., the carrier structure 316 may not include one of thefour sides described above), so that the carrier structure 316 partiallyencircles the optical elements.

According to some embodiments, the fixed base structure 318 may includea component of the camera 300 to which the carrier structure 316 ismoveably connected (e.g., via suspension elements). In some examples,the fixed base structure 318 may at least partially extend around thecarrier structure 316. The fixed base structure 318 may be fixed (orstatic) relative to movement of the carrier structure 316. Furthermore,the fixed base structure 318 may be fixed relative to the first prism304, the second prism 306, and/or the image sensor 308. The fixed basestructure 318 may be spaced apart from the carrier structure 316 toallow for movement (e.g., AF and/or OIS movement) of the carrierstructure 316 within a periphery defined by the fixed base structure318. In some examples, the fixed base structure 318 may include multiplecomponents that are joined or otherwise fixed relative to each other.

In various embodiments, the actuator module 314 may include one or moreAF VCM actuators and/or one or more OIS VCM actuators. In someembodiments, the actuator module 314 may include an AF VCM actuator 320(e.g., to provide AF movement), an OIS-Y VCM actuator 322 (e.g., toprovide OIS-Y movement), and an OIS-X VCM actuator 324 (e.g., to provideOIS-X movement).

The AF VCM actuator 320 may include one or more magnets and one or morecoils. In some examples, the AF VCM actuator 320 may include a pair ofAF magnets 326 and an AF coil 328. The AF coil 328 may be electricallydriven to magnetically interact with the AF magnets 326 to produceLorentz forces that move the AF coil 328, the carrier structure 316,and/or the lens group 302 along an axis (e.g., along axis 202 of FIG. 2)to provide AF movement of the lens group 302. The AF magnets 326 may beattached to the fixed base structure 318. The AF coil 328 may beattached to the carrier structure 316 (e.g., to the distal/object sideof the carrier structure 316). According to some embodiments, the AFcoil 328 may extend from the carrier structure 316 such that the AF coil328 is nested between the AF magnets 328. In some cases, the AF coil 328may be attached to a protrusion 330 of the carrier structure 316, andthe protrusion 330 may extend toward the AF magnets 326. In someinstances, the AF coil 328 may be wound around the protrusion 330. Insome embodiments, the AF coil 328 may have a long axis that is parallelto respective long axes of the AF magnets 326. In various embodiments,the AF VCM actuator 320 may be tucked within a space under a portion ofthe first prism 304, e.g., as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In thismanner, the impact of the AF VCM actuator 320 on the dimension of thesystem along its long axis (also referred to herein as the “systemX-axis”) and along its vertical axis (also referred to herein as the“system Z-axis”) may be reduced or eliminated.

The OIS-Y VCM actuator 322 may include one or more magnets and one ormore coils. In some examples, the OIS-Y VCM actuator 322 may include apair of OIS-Y magnets 332 and an OIS-Y coil 334. The OIS-Y coil 334 maybe electrically driven to magnetically interact with the OIS-Y magnets332 to produce Lorentz forces that move the OIS-Y coil 334, the carrierstructure 316, and/or the lens group 302 along an axis (e.g., along axis206 of FIG. 2) to provide OIS-Y movement of the lens group 302. TheOIS-Y magnets 332 may be attached to the fixed base structure 318. TheOIS-Y coil 334 may be attached to the carrier structure 316 (e.g., to alateral side of the carrier structure 316). According to someembodiments, the OIS-Y coil 334 may extend from the carrier structure316 such that the OIS-Y coil 334 is nested between the OIS-Y magnets332. In some cases, the OIS-Y coil 334 may be attached to a protrusion336 of the carrier structure 316, and the protrusion 336 may extendtoward the OIS-Y magnets 332. In some instances, the OIS-Y coil 334 maybe wound around the protrusion 336. In some embodiments, the OIS-Y coil334 may have a long axis that is parallel to respective long axes of theOIS-Y magnets 332. While a single OIS-Y VCM actuator 322 is shown inFIG. 3, it should be understood that various embodiments may includemultiple OIS-Y VCM actuators. For instance, the camera 300 may include asecond OIS-Y VCM actuator opposite (e.g., with respect to the lens group302) the first OIS-Y VCM actuator 322 depicted in FIG. 3.

The OIS-X VCM actuator 324 may include one or more magnets and one ormore coils. In some examples, the OIS-X VCM actuator 324 may include apair of OIS-X magnets 338 and an OIS-X coil 340. The OIS-X coil 340 maybe electrically driven to magnetically interact with the OIS-X magnets338 to produce Lorentz forces that move the OIS-X coil 340, the carrierstructure 316, and/or the lens group 302 along an axis (e.g., along axis204 of FIG. 2) to provide OIS-X movement of the lens group 302. TheOIS-X magnets 338 may be attached to the fixed base structure 318. TheOIS-X coil 340 may be attached to the carrier structure 316 and/or thelens holder 312. According to some embodiments, the OIS-X coil 340 mayextend from the carrier structure 316 such that the OIS-X coil 340 isnested between the OIS-X magnets 338. In some cases, the OIS-X coil 340may be attached to a protrusion 342 of the carrier structure 316, andthe protrusion 342 may extend toward the OIS-X magnets 338. In someinstances, the OIS-X coil 340 may be wound around the protrusion 342. Insome embodiments, the OIS-X coil 340 may have a long axis that isparallel to respective long axes of the OIS-X magnets 338.

In some embodiments, the camera 300 may include a suspension mechanism344 (or “suspension arrangement”) from which the carrier structure 316may be suspended relative to the fixed base structure 318. Thesuspension mechanism 344 may provide compliance and/or stiffness forcontrolled movement of the carrier structure 316. According to someexamples, the suspension mechanism 344 may include a set of one or moretop springs 346 (e.g., leaf springs) attached to respective top cornerportions of the carrier structure 316. Furthermore, a respectivesuspension wire 348 may extend downward from each of the top springs346. A bottom end portion of the respective suspension wire 348 may beattached to a fixed (or static) structure. Additionally, oralternatively, the suspension mechanism 344 may include a set of one ormore bottom springs 350 attached to respective bottom corner portions ofthe carrier structure 316. Furthermore, a respective suspension wire 352may extend upward from each of the bottom springs 350. A top end portionof the respective suspension wire 352 may be attached to a fixed (orstatic) structure. In some embodiments, the top and/or bottom springsmay provide compliance for OIS-X movement in a controlled manner, andmay provide sufficient stiffness to resist Z-axis movement of the lensgroup 302 during OIS-Y and/or AF movement. Furthermore, the suspensionwires may provide compliance for OIS-Y and/or AF movement in acontrolled manner, and may provide sufficient stiffness to resist X-Yplane movement of the lens group during OIS-X movement. Variousnon-limiting example suspension arrangements are described in greaterdetail below with reference to FIGS. 5-7C.

In various embodiments, the camera 300 may include a substrate 354 belowthe second prism 306. The image sensor 308 may be coupled with thesubstrate 354. In some embodiments, a filter 356 (e.g., an infraredfilter) may also be coupled to the substrate 354. For instance, thefilter 356 may be located above the image sensor 308 such that lightpasses through the filter 356 before reaching the image sensor 308.

In some embodiments, the camera 300 may include a first prism holder 356that holds the first prism 304. In some embodiments, the first prism 304may be attached to one or more fixed (or static) structures of thecamera 300 via the first prism holder 356. For instance, the first prismholder 356 may be attached to a shield can (not shown) in some cases.Additionally, or alternatively, the camera 300 may include a secondprism holder 358 that holds the second prism 306. In some embodiments,the second prism 306 may be attached to one or more fixed (or static)structures of the camera 300 via the second prism holder 358. Forinstance, the second prism holder 358 may be attached to the shield canin some cases.

The suspension arrangements described here may generally include one ormore springs (e.g., leaf springs), one or more wires (e.g., suspensionwires), and/or one or more flexure arms. FIGS. 5-7C show various examplesuspension arrangements that may be used with any of the camera systemsand/or actuator arrangements described herein. Although shown in FIGS. 3and 4 as having a suspension arrangement comprising top (or “upper”)springs and bottom (or “lower”) springs, the suspension arrangement neednot include both. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view ofan example suspension arrangement 500 (e.g., for a camera with a foldedoptics arrangement) that may have one or more top springs and one ormore wires extending downward from the top spring(s).

In some embodiments, the camera may include a lens group 502, a firstprism 504, and a second prism 506. In various embodiments, the cameramay include an actuator module that provides for shifting the lens group502 along multiple axes, e.g., to provide AF and/or OIS movement. Insome examples, the actuator module may include a carrier structure 508and a fixed base structure (e.g., the fixed base structure 318 of FIG.3). According to some embodiments, the carrier structure 508 may beattached to the lens group 502. For instance, the carrier structure 508may be attached to the lens group 502 such that the lens group 502 movestogether with the carrier structure 508. In various embodiments, thecarrier structure 508 may extend around the first prism 504, the lensgroup 502, and the second prism 506, e.g., as shown in FIG. 5. Thecarrier structure 508 may define a periphery within which at least arespective portion of each of the first prism 504, the lens group 502,and the second prism 506 are disposed.

In various embodiments, the suspension arrangement 500 may include a setof one or more top springs 510 attached to respective top cornerportions of the carrier structure 508. Furthermore, a respectivesuspension wire 512 may extend downward from each of the top springs510. A bottom end portion 514 of the respective suspension wire 512 maybe attached to a fixed (or static) structure.

In some embodiments, the camera and/or the suspension arrangement 500may include a damper that dampens movement of one or more of thesuspension wires 512. For instance, the suspension wires 512 may be atleast partially disposed within a viscoelastic material 516 (e.g., aviscoelastic gel). In some examples, one or more protrusions 518 mayprotrude from the carrier structure 508 and form one or more pocketswithin which the viscoelastic material 516 may be disposed. In someinstances, the viscoelastic material 516 may be injected into a pocketthrough a hole in the base structure (not shown) that surrounds thecarrier structure 508. For example, an insertion needle (not shown) maybe inserted through the hole in the base structure to access the pocketand inject the viscoelastic material 516 into the pocket. In someembodiments, the protrusions 518 may extend from corner portions of thecarrier structure 508, e.g., as shown in FIG. 5. While FIG. 5 showsprotrusions 518 that form pockets configured to contain, at least inpart, the viscoelastic material 516, it should be understood that theviscoelastic material 516 may be disposed within pockets formeddifferently, e.g., via pockets formed of protrusions from a structureother than the carrier structure 508, pockets formed via a combinationof the carrier structure 508 and one or more other structures, etc. Theviscoelastic material 516 may be located along any portion(s) of thelength of a suspension wire 512. In some embodiments, the viscoelasticmaterial 516 may be located along a central portion of the length of asuspension wire 512.

In some embodiments, the carrier structure 508 may define one or morecutout portions and/or one or more recessed portions, e.g., for weightreduction and/or mass balancing purposes. In some examples, the cutoutportion(s) and/or recessed portion(s) may be positioned so as to reduceweight in certain areas to appropriately distribute weight, e.g., incamera systems that are not symmetric in one or more directions. Forinstance, it may be desirable to distribute the weight of components ofa camera system in a manner that avoids undesirable moments about thecenter of gravity of the lens group 502. In some examples, the weightreduction may increase system responsiveness to actuation of theactuator module and/or may improve energy efficiency (e.g., by reducingthe required amount of drive current to the coils). In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 5, the carrier structure 508 defines cutout portions520 that oppose one another with respect to the first prism 504.Furthermore, the carrier structure 508 defines cutout portions 522 thatoppose one another with respect to the second prism 506. Furthermore,the carrier structure 508 defines a recessed portion 524 proximate thesecond prism 506. In some instances, the cutout portion(s) and/or therecessed portion(s) may be located and/or sized to reduce or eliminatemoments (e.g., caused by actuation forces) about a center of gravity ofthe lens group 502 and/or the carrier structure 508. Any of the carrierstructures described above and below (e.g., with reference to FIGS. 3,4, 7A-7C, 8B, 8C, and 9A-15) may include one or more cutout portionsand/or one or more recessed portions in some embodiments. Additionally,or alternatively, the cutout portion(s) and/or the recessed portion(s)may be used with any suspension arrangement described herein.

FIG. 6A illustrates a perspective view of another example suspensionarrangement 600 (e.g., for a camera with a folded optics arrangement)that may have one or more top (or “upper”) springs and one or morebottom (or “lower”) springs. One or more wires may extend downward fromthe top spring(s). Furthermore, one or more wires may extend upward fromthe bottom spring(s). While the suspension arrangement 600 is describedas having top and bottom springs, the suspension arrangement 600 mayinclude one or more additional features (that may not be shown in FIG.6A) in some embodiments.

In various embodiments, the suspension arrangement 600 may include a setof one or more top springs 510 attached to respective top cornerportions of the carrier structure 508. Furthermore, a respectivesuspension wire 512 may extend downward from each of the top springs510. A bottom end portion 514 of the respective suspension wire 512 maybe attached to a fixed (or static) structure.

Furthermore, the suspension arrangement 600 may include a set of one ormore bottom springs 602 attached to respective bottom corner portions ofthe carrier structure 508. Furthermore, a respective suspension wire 604may extend upward from each of the bottom springs 602. A top end portion606 of the respective suspension wire 604 may be attached to a fixed (orstatic) structure. In some embodiments, one or more of the suspensionwires 604 may be coupled with a corresponding suspension wire 512 (e.g.,a suspension wire 512 that extends downward from a top spring 510 at asame corner portion) via a respective brace to limit relative movementbetween the corresponding suspension wires 512 and 604 in one or moredegrees of freedom. For example, as indicated in FIG. 6B, the brace 608may be a structure that connects the corresponding suspension wires 512and 604 at their midpoints (e.g., midpoints along the directions inwhich the suspension wires 512 and 604 extend). However, it should beunderstood that the brace 608 may additionally or alternatively connectthe suspension wires 512 and 604 at one or more other portions of thewires. In various embodiments, due to the brace 608, the correspondingsuspension wires 512 and 604 may maintain a constant relative distancefrom each other at the portion(s) in which they are connected by thebrace 608.

In some embodiments the camera and/or the suspension arrangement 600 mayinclude a damper that dampens movement of one or more of the suspensionwires 512 and/or the suspension wires 604. For instance, the suspensionwires 512, 604 may be at least partially disposed within a viscoelasticmaterial 516 (e.g., a viscoelastic gel). In some examples, one or moreprotrusions 518 may protrude from the carrier structure 508 and form oneor more pockets within which the viscoelastic material 516 may bedisposed. In some examples, a pocket may be formed to containviscoelastic material 516 that surrounds one or more portions of thesuspension wire 512 and not the suspension wire 604, e.g., asillustrated in FIG. 6A. However, in some embodiments, the protrusions508 may extend further out to form a larger pocket such that theviscoelastic material 516 within the larger pocket may surround both thesuspension wire 512 and the suspension wire 604. In other embodiments, aseparate pocket may be formed for each respective wire. For instance, afirst pocket may be formed to contain viscoelastic material within whichat least a portion of the suspension wire 512 may be disposed, and asecond pocket may be formed to contain viscoelastic material withinwhich at least a portion of the suspension wire 604 may be disposed.

As mentioned above, some embodiments may include a suspensionarrangement comprising flexure arms. FIGS. 7A-7C each illustrate arespective view of yet another example suspension arrangement 700 (e.g.,for a camera with a folded optics arrangement) that may include suchflexure arms. FIG. 7A shows a top view of the suspension arrangement700. FIG. 7B shows a top detail view of a corner portion of thesuspension arrangement 700 of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C shows a perspectivedetail view of a corner portion of the suspension arrangement 700 ofFIG. 7A.

According to various embodiments, the suspension arrangement 700 mayinclude a combination of a spring-and-wire suspension mechanism (e.g.,as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5-6B) and a flexuresuspension mechanism. For instance, the suspension arrangement 700 mayinclude a set of one or more top springs 702 attached to respective topcorner portions of a carrier structure 704. The carrier structure 704may be attached to sides of a lens group 706, e.g., as shown in FIG. 7A.Furthermore, one or more coils 708 (e.g., coils of one or more VCMactuators) may be attached to the carrier structure 704. In someexamples, a respective suspension wire 708 may extend downward from eachof the top springs 702, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 7A-7C. A bottom endportion 710 of the respective suspension wire 708 may be attached to afixed (or static) structure (e.g., a portion of the fixed base structure716 not shown).

In some embodiments, the suspension arrangement 700 may include a bottomflexure suspension mechanism 712 attached to a lower portion (or bottom)of the carrier structure 704. The bottom flexure suspension mechanism712 may include a set of one or more flexure arms 714 that is coupledwith the carrier structure 704 and the fixed base structure 716 thatsurrounds the carrier structure 704. In some instances, the set offlexure arms 714 may be attached to an inner frame that is part of thecarrier structure 704. In other instances, the inner frame may be aseparate structure that is coupled with the carrier structure 704.Similarly, the set of flexure arms 714 may be attached to an outer framethat is part of the fixed base structure 706 in some instances. In otherinstances, the outer frame may be a separate structure that is coupledwith the fixed base structure 706.

In some examples, the bottom flexure suspension mechanism 712 mayinclude one or more flexure stabilizers 718 that connect adjacentflexure arms 714 with one another to prevent the connected flexure arms714 from interfering (e.g., bumping, tangling, etc.) with one anotherduring movement of the flexure arms 714. In various embodiments, theflexure arms 714 may extend parallel to one another. Furthermore, insome embodiments, the flexure stabilizers 718 may extend at an angle to(e.g., orthogonal to) the flexure arms 714.

Although in FIGS. 7A-7C the suspension arrangement 700 is shown asincluding a top spring 702 and a bottom flexure suspension mechanism712, it should be understood that in various embodiments the suspensionarrangement 700 may additionally, or alternatively, include a bottomspring and/or a top flexure suspension mechanism.

In some embodiments, a viscoelastic material may be disposed at one ormore locations of the suspension arrangement 700 to dampen movement ofone or more portions of the spring-and-wire suspension mechanism and/orthe flexure suspension mechanism. For instance, one or more pockets maybe formed by one or more structures (e.g., the carrier structure 704and/or the fixed base structure 716), and the pocket(s) may beconfigured to at least partially be filled with the viscoelasticmaterial such that the viscoelastic material at least partiallysurrounds one or more wires, one or more flexure arms, and/or one ormore flexure stabilizers of the suspension arrangement 700.

According to various embodiments, the camera systems described here maycomprise actuator arrangements that may be used to move a carrierstructure (which, as discussed above, may cause movement of a lensgroup). FIGS. 8A-13C show various example actuator arrangements that maybe used with any of the camera systems, carrier structures, and/orsuspension arrangements described above (e.g., with reference to FIGS.3-7C). For instance, FIGS. 8A-8D each illustrate a respective view of anexample actuator arrangement 800 for 3-axis shifting of a lens groupwithin a folded optics arrangement of a camera. FIG. 8A shows aperspective view of the actuator arrangement 800. FIG. 8B shows a sidecross-sectional view of the actuator arrangement 800. FIG. 8C shows afront cross-sectional view of the actuator arrangement 800. FIG. 8Dshows a perspective view of magnets and coils of the actuatorarrangement 800. The actuator arrangement 800 shown in FIGS. 8A-8D maybe the same as, or similar to, the arrangement of actuator module 314shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In various embodiments, the camera may include a lens group 802, a firstprism 804, and a second prism 306, and an image sensor 808. The lensgroup 802 may include one or more lens elements 810 disposed within alens holder 812. In various embodiments, the camera may include acarrier structure 814 and a fixed base structure 816. According to someembodiments, the carrier structure 814 may be attached to the lens group802. For instance, the carrier structure 814 may be attached to the lensgroup 802 such that the lens group 802 moves together with the carrierstructure 814. In various embodiments, the carrier structure 814 mayextend around the first prism 804, the lens group 802, and the secondprism 806. The carrier structure 814 may define a periphery within whichat least a respective portion of each of the first prism 804, the lensgroup 802, and the second prism 806 are disposed.

In some embodiments, the fixed base structure 816 may extend around thecarrier structure 814. The fixed base structure 816 may be fixed (orstatic) relative to movement of the carrier structure 814. The fixedbase structure 816 may be spaced apart from the carrier structure 814 toallow for movement (e.g., AF and/or OIS movement) of the carrierstructure 814 within a periphery defined by the fixed base structure816.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 800 may include one ormore voice coil motor (VCM) actuators. For instance, the actuatorarrangement 800 may include one or more autofocus (AF) VCM actuatorsand/or one or more optical image stabilization (OIS) VCM actuators. Insome examples, the actuator arrangement 800 may include an AF VCMactuator 818 to provide AF movement, an OIS-X VCM actuator 820 toprovide OIS-X movement, and an OIS-Y VCM actuator 822 to provide OIS-Ymovement.

The AF VCM actuator 818 may include one or more magnets and one or morecoils. In some examples, the AF VCM actuator 818 may include a pair ofAF magnets 824 and an AF coil 826. The AF coil 826 may be electricallydriven to magnetically interact with the AF magnets 824 to produceLorentz forces that move the AF coil 826 the carrier structure 814,and/or the lens group 802 along an axis (e.g., in directions indicatedby arrows 830 shown in FIGS. 8B and 8D) to provide AF movement of thelens group 802. The AF magnets 824 may be attached to the fixed basestructure 816. The AF coil 826 may be attached to the carrier structure814. According to some embodiments, the AF coil 826 may extend from thecarrier structure 814 such that the AF coil 826 is nested between the AFmagnets 824, e.g., as indicated in FIG. 8B. In some cases, the AF coil826 may be attached to a protrusion 828 of the carrier structure 814,and the protrusion 828 may extend toward the AF magnets 824, e.g., tolocate the AF coil 826 within a vertical space between the AF magnets824. In some instances, the AF coil 826 may be wound around theprotrusion 828. In some embodiments, the AF coil 826 may have a longaxis that is parallel to respective long axes of the AF magnets 824. Invarious embodiments, the AF VCM actuator 818 may be tucked within aspace under a portion of the first prism 804, e.g., as indicated in FIG.8B. In this manner, the impact of the AF VCM actuator 818 on thedimension of the system along the system X-axis and along the systemZ-axis may be reduced or eliminated.

In some embodiments, the AF magnets 824 may have opposite polingdirections, e.g., as indicate in FIG. 8B by arrows 832. Furthermore, theAF magnets 824 may produce respective magnetic fields as indicated inFIG. 8B by magnetic field arrows 834. An example direction of currentflow through the AF coil 826 is indicated in FIG. 8B using a cross (X)and a dot (•). The cross indicates current flowing “into the page,” andthe dot indicates current flowing “out of the page.” This “cross anddot” convention for indicating example directions of current flowthrough coils is maintained throughout this disclosure.

In various embodiments, the AF coil 826 may be located within componentsof the magnetic fields produced by the AF magnets 824 that remainsubstantially constant in direction along a stroke of the AF coil 826.

The OIS-X VCM actuator 820 may include one or more magnets and one ormore coils. In some examples, the OIS-X VCM actuator 820 may include apair of OIS-X magnets 836 and an OIS-X coil 838. The OIS-X coil 838 maybe electrically driven to magnetically interact with the OIS-X magnets836 to produce Lorentz forces that move the OIS-X coil 838, the carrierstructure 814, and/or the lens group 802 along an axis (e.g., indirections indicated by arrows 840 shown in FIGS. 8B and 8D) to provideOIS-X movement of the lens group 802. The OIS-X magnets 836 may beattached to the fixed base structure 816. The OIS-X coil 838 may beattached to the carrier structure 814. According to some embodiments,the OIS-X coil 838 may extend from the carrier structure 814 such thatthe OIS-X coil 838 is nested between the OIS-X magnets 836, e.g., asindicated in FIG. 8B. In some cases, the OIS-X coil 838 may be attachedto a protrusion 842 of the carrier structure 814, and the protrusion 842may extend toward the OIS-X magnets 836, e.g., to locate the OIS-X coil838 within a horizontal space between the OIS-X magnets 836. In someinstances, the OIS-X coil 838 may be wound around the protrusion 842. Insome embodiments, the OIS-X coil 838 may have a long axis that isparallel to respective long axes of the OIS-X magnets 836.

In some embodiments, the OIS-X magnets 836 may have opposite polingdirections, e.g., as indicate in FIG. 8B by arrows 844. Furthermore, theOIS-X magnets 836 may produce respective magnetic fields as indicated inFIG. 8B by magnetic field arrows 846.

In various embodiments, the OIS-X coil 838 may be located withincomponents of the magnetic fields produced by the OIS-X magnets 836 thatremain substantially constant in direction along a stroke of the OIS-Xcoil 838.

The OIS-Y VCM actuator 822 may include one or more magnets and one ormore coils. In some examples, the OIS-Y VCM actuator 822 may include apair of OIS-Y magnets 848 and an OIS-Y coil 850 to a first side of thelens group 802, and another pair of OIS-Y magnets 848 and another OIS-Ycoil 850 to a second side of the lens group 802 that is opposite thefirst side. The OIS-Y coils 850 may be electrically driven tomagnetically interact with the OIS-Y magnets 848 to produce Lorentzforces that move the OIS-Y coils 850, the carrier structure 814, and/orthe lens group 802 along an axis (e.g., in directions indicated byarrows 852 shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D) to provide OIS-Y movement of thelens group 802. The OIS-Y magnets 848 may be attached to the fixed basestructure 816. The OIS-Y coils 850 may be attached to the carrierstructure 814. According to some embodiments, the OIS-Y coils 850 mayextend from the carrier structure 814 such that respective OIS-Y coils850 are nested between respective pairs of OIS-Y magnets 848. In somecases, each of the OIS-Y coils 850 may be attached to a respectiveprotrusion 854 of the carrier structure 814, and the respectiveprotrusion 854 may extend toward a respective pair of OIS-Y magnets 848.In some instances, each of the OIS-Y coils 850 may be wound around arespective protrusion 854. In some embodiments, each of the OIS-Y coils850 may have a respective long axis that is parallel to respective longaxes of the OIS-Y magnets 848.

In some embodiments, the OIS-Y magnets 848 may have opposite polingdirections, e.g., as indicate in FIG. 8B by arrows 856. Furthermore, theOIS-Y magnets 848 may produce respective magnetic fields as indicated inFIG. 8B by magnetic field arrows 858.

In various embodiments, the OIS-Y coils 850 may be located withincomponents of the magnetic fields produced by the OIS-Y magnets 848 thatremain substantially constant in direction along respective strokes ofthe OIS-Y coils 850.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate schematic side, top, and cross-sectional views,respectively, of an example actuator arrangement 900 for 3-axis shiftingof a lens group within a folded optics arrangement of a camera. Theactuator arrangement 900 may be the same as, or similar to, the actuatorarrangement 800 discussed above with reference to FIGS. 8A-8D. In FIGS.9A-9C, arrows on the coils may represent example forces acting on thecoils (e.g., Lorentz forces produced as a result of magnetic interactionbetween the coils and the magnets) and/or example directions of movementbased on forces acting on the coils. Furthermore, arrows on the magnetsmay represent example poling directions of the magnets. These arrowconventions also apply to coils and magnets in FIGS. 10A-13C.

In various embodiments, the camera may include a lens group 902, a firstprism 904, and a second prism 906. The lens group 902 may include one ormore lens elements 908 disposed within a lens holder. In variousembodiments, the camera may include a carrier structure 910 and a fixedbase structure 912. In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 900may include an AF VCM actuator 914 to provide AF movement, an OIS-X VCMactuator 916 to provide OIS-X movement, and an OIS-Y VCM actuator 918 toprovide OIS-Y movement.

While some actuator arrangements described above may include an OIS-XVCM actuator located below the lens group, in some embodiments anactuator arrangement may include OIS-X VCM actuators located in cornersof the camera system instead of below the lens group. For example, FIGS.10A-10C each illustrate a respective schematic view of an exampleactuator arrangement 1000 (e.g., for 3-axis shifting of a lens groupwithin a folded optics arrangement of a camera) that may include suchcorner OIS-X VCM actuators. FIG. 10A shows a schematic side view of theactuator arrangement 1000. FIG. 10B shows a schematic top view of theactuator arrangement 1000. FIG. 10C shows a schematic cross-sectionalview of the actuator arrangement 1000.

In various embodiments, the camera may include a lens group 1002, afirst prism 1004, and a second prism 1006. The lens group 1002 mayinclude one or more lens elements disposed within a lens holder. Invarious embodiments, the camera may include a carrier structure 1008 anda fixed base structure 1010.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1000 may include an AF VCMactuator 1012 to provide AF movement. The AF VCM actuator 1012 may beconfigured like the AF VCM actuator 818 described above with referenceto FIGS. 8A-8D.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1000 may include an OIS-YVCM actuator 1014 to provide OIS-Y movement. The OIS-Y VCM actuator 1014may be configured like the OIS-Y VCM actuator 822 described above withreference to FIGS. 8A-8D.

As mentioned above, the actuator arrangement 1000 may include cornerOIS-X VCM actuators 1016. Rather than a single OIS-X VCM actuator beinglocated below the lens group 1002 (e.g., as described above withreference to FIGS. 8A-8D), the corner OIS-X VCM actuators 1016 do notimpact, or minimally impact, the dimension of the system along thesystem Z-axis. As shown in FIG. 10B, the actuator arrangement 1000 mayinclude four corner OIS-X VCM actuators 1016 in some embodiments—eachcorner OIS-X VCM actuator 1016 being disposed proximate a respectivecorner of the carrier structure 1008 and/or the fixed base structure1010.

As indicated in FIG. 10C, each corner OIS-X VCM actuator 1016 mayinclude a pair of OIS-X magnets 1018 and an OIS-X coil 1020. The OIS-Xmagnets 1018 may be coupled to the fixed base structure 1010. In someexamples, a first protrusion 1022 may extend from the fixed basestructure 1010 towards the carrier structure 1008. The first protrusion1022 may be part of the fixed base structure 1010 in some embodiments.In some embodiments, the first protrusion 1022 may be a structure thatis attached to the fixed base structure 1010. One or both of the OIS-Xmagnets 1018 may be attached to or otherwise supported by the firstprotrusion 1022 and/or the fixed base structure 1010, e.g., as indicatedin FIG. 10C. The OIS-X coil may be coupled to the carrier structure1008. In some examples, a second protrusion 1024 may extend from thecarrier structure 1008 towards the fixed base structure 1010 and towardsthe OIS-X magnets 1018. The OIS-X coil 1020 may be attached to an endportion of the second protrusion 1024 such that the OIS-X coil 1020 islocated within a horizontal space between the OIS-X magnets 1018. Thatis, the OIS-X coil 1020 may be nested between the OIS-X magnets 1018.

In some actuator arrangements, corner OIS-X VCM actuators may comprisedual pole OIS-X magnets. For example, FIGS. 11A-11C each illustrate arespective schematic view of an example actuator arrangement 1100 (e.g.,for 3-axis shifting of a lens group within a folded optics arrangementof a camera) that may include corner OIS-X VCM actuators having dualpole OIS-X magnets. FIG. 11A shows a schematic side view of the actuatorarrangement 1100. FIG. 11B shows a schematic top view of the actuatorarrangement 1100. FIG. 11C shows a schematic cross-sectional view of theactuator arrangement 1100.

In various embodiments, the camera may include a lens group 1102, afirst prism 1104, and a second prism 1106. The lens group 1102 mayinclude one or more lens elements disposed within a lens holder. Invarious embodiments, the camera may include a carrier structure 1108 anda fixed base structure 1110.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1100 may include an AF VCMactuator 1112 to provide AF movement. The AF VCM actuator 1112 may beconfigured like the AF VCM actuator 818 described above with referenceto FIGS. 8A-8D.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1100 may include an OIS-YVCM actuator 1114 to provide OIS-Y movement. The OIS-Y VCM actuator 1114may be configured like the OIS-Y VCM actuator 822 described above withreference to FIGS. 8A-8D.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1100 may include cornerOIS-X VCM actuators 1116. Rather than a single OIS-X VCM actuator beinglocated below the lens group 1102 (e.g., as described above withreference to FIGS. 8A-8D), the corner OIS-X VCM actuators 1116 do notimpact, or minimally impact, the dimension of the system along thesystem Z-axis. As shown in FIG. 11B, the actuator arrangement 1100 mayinclude four corner OIS-X VCM actuators 1116 in some embodiments—eachcorner OIS-X VCM actuator 1116 being disposed proximate a respectivecorner of the carrier structure 1108 and/or the fixed base structure1110.

As indicated in FIG. 11C, each corner OIS-X VCM actuator 1116 mayinclude a pair of dual pole OIS-X magnets 1118 and an OIS-X coil 1120.The dual pole OIS-X magnets 1118 may be coupled to the fixed basestructure 1110, e.g., as indicated in FIG. 11C. In some examples, thedual pole OIS-X magnets may be aligned along a vertical plane. In someembodiments, the OIS-X coil 1120 may be coupled to the carrier structure1108. According to some examples, a protrusion 1122 may extend from thecarrier structure 1108 towards the fixed base structure 1110 and towardsthe dual pole OIS-X magnets 1118. The OIS-X coil 1120 may be attached toan end portion of the protrusion 1122 such that the OIS-X coil 1120 islocated proximate the dual pole OIS-X magnets 1118. In the actuatorarrangement 1100, the OIS-X coil 1120 may not be nested between the dualpole OIS-X magnets 1118. As such, in some instances the OIS-X coils 1120on one side of the system may move away from their corresponding dualpole OIS-X magnets 1118. Components of the magnetic fields produced bythe corresponding dual pole OIS-X magnets 1118 may increasingly vary indirection as the OIS-X coils 1120 move away from the magnets.Accordingly, one or more of the corner OIS-X VCM actuators 1116 may beindependently controlled in some embodiments. For instance, a first pairof corner OIS-X VCM actuators 1116 at a first side of the carrierstructure 1108 may be controlled independently of a second pair ofcorner OIS-X VCM actuators 1116 at a second side of the carrierstructure 1108 opposite the first side of the carrier structure 1108.

As mentioned above, various actuator arrangements may include an OIS-XVCM actuator located below the lens group (e.g., as indicated in theactuator arrangements described above with reference to FIGS. 8A-9C) orcorner OIS-X VCM actuators located at corners of the camera system(e.g., as indicated in the actuator arrangements described above withreference to FIGS. 10A-11C). In some embodiments, an actuatorarrangement may instead include one or more OIS-X VCM actuators behindthe first prism and/or in front of the second prism. For example, FIGS.12A-12C each illustrate a respective schematic view of an exampleactuator arrangement 1200 (e.g., for 3-axis shifting of a lens groupwithin a folded optics arrangement of a camera) that may include suchOIS-X VCM actuators. FIG. 12A shows a schematic side view of theactuator arrangement 1200. FIG. 12B shows a schematic top view of theactuator arrangement 1200. FIG. 12C shows a schematic cross-sectionalview of the actuator arrangement 1200.

In various embodiments, the camera may include a lens group 1202, afirst prism 1204, and a second prism 1206. The lens group 1202 mayinclude one or more lens elements disposed within a lens holder. Invarious embodiments, the camera may include a carrier structure 1208 anda fixed base structure 1210.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1200 may include an AF VCMactuator 1212 to provide AF movement. The AF VCM actuator 1212 may beconfigured like the AF VCM actuator 818 described above with referenceto FIGS. 8A-8D. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the AF VCMactuator 1212 may not be tucked under the first prism 1204, e.g., asindicated in FIG. 12C.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1200 may include an OIS-YVCM actuator 1214 to provide OIS-Y movement. The OIS-Y VCM actuator 1214may be configured like the OIS-Y VCM actuator 822 described above withreference to FIGS. 8A-8D.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1200 may include OIS-X VCMactuators 1216 to provide OIS-X movement. For instance, the actuatorarrangement 1200 may include a first OIS-X VCM actuator 1216 below thefirst prism 1204, e.g., as indicated in FIGS. 12A and 12C. Furthermore,the actuator arrangement 1200 may include a second OIS-X VCM actuator1216 proximate the second prism 1206, e.g., as indicated in FIGS.12A-12C. Each of the OIS-X VCM actuators 1216 may include a pair ofOIS-X magnets 1218 and an OIS-X coil 1220. The OIS-X magnets 1218 may becoupled to the fixed base structure 1210, and the OIS-X coil 1220 may becoupled to the carrier structure 1208. In various embodiments, the OIS-Xcoil 1220 may be nested between the OIS-X magnets 1218.

While some actuator arrangements described above may include arespective magnet for each VCM actuator, in some embodiments an actuatorarrangement may include one or more magnets that may be shared bymultiple VCM actuators. For example, FIGS. 13A-13C each illustrate arespective schematic view of an example actuator arrangement 1300 (e.g.,for 3-axis shifting of a lens group within a folded optics arrangementof a camera) that may include such shared magnets. FIG. 13A shows aschematic side view of the actuator arrangement 1300. FIG. 13B shows aschematic top view of the actuator arrangement 1300. FIG. 13C shows aschematic cross-sectional view of the actuator arrangement 1300.

In various embodiments, the camera may include a lens group 1302, afirst prism 1304, and a second prism 1306. The lens group 1302 mayinclude one or more lens elements disposed within a lens holder. Invarious embodiments, the camera may include a carrier structure 1308 anda fixed base structure 1310.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1300 may include an AF VCMactuator 1312 to provide AF movement. The AF VCM actuator 1312 may beconfigured like the AF VCM actuator 818 described above with referenceto FIGS. 8A-8D.

In some embodiments, the actuator arrangement 1300 may include an OIS-YVCM actuator 1314 to provide OIS-Y movement. Furthermore, the actuatorarrangement 1300 may include OIS-X VCM actuators 1316 to provide OIS-Xmovement. In some examples, the OIS-Y VCM actuator 1314 and the OIS-XVCM actuators 1316 may share magnets, e.g., as shown in FIG. 13C. Insome embodiments, the OIS-Y VCM actuator 1314 may share a first magnet1318 with a first OIS-X VCM actuator 1316, and the OIS-Y VCM actuator1314 may share a second magnet 1320 with a second OIS-X VCM actuator1316 opposite the first OIS-X VCM actuator with respect to the carrierstructure 1308. The magnets 1318, 1320 may be coupled to the fixed basestructure 1310. Each of the OIS-X VCM actuators 1316 may include arespective OIS-X coil 1322 that is coupled to the carrier structure1308. In some examples, the OIS-X coils 1322 may behorizontally-oriented racetrack coils. In some embodiments, each of theOIS-X coils 1322 may be attached to a respective protrusion 1324 thatextends from the carrier structure 1308 towards the fixed base structure1310.

In some embodiments, the OIS-Y VCM actuator may include an OIS-Y coil1326 that is coupled to the carrier structure 1308. For instance, theOIS-Y coil 1326 may be a horizontally-oriented racetrack coil that isattached to the carrier structure 1308 below the lens group 1302.Furthermore, the OIS-Y coil 1326 may surround an outer periphery of thelens group 1302 in some examples.

The camera systems described herein may have various components (e.g.,the optical elements, the suspension arrangements, and/or the actuatorarrangements, etc.) that are at least partially enclosed by a housing(e.g., a shield can). For example, FIG. 14A shows a perspective view ofan example camera 1400 with a shield can covering at least a portion ofthe internal components of the camera 1400. FIG. 14B shows a perspectiveview of the camera 1400 without the shield covering the internalcomponents.

In some embodiments, the camera 1400 may include a lens group 1402between a first prism 1404 and a second prism 1406. The lens group 1302may include one or more lens elements disposed within a lens holder. Invarious embodiments, the camera 1400 may include a carrier structure1408 and a fixed base structure 1410.

In some embodiments, the first prism 1404 may be held within a firstprism holder 1412. Furthermore, the second prism 1406 may be held withina second prism holder 1414. The camera 1400 may include a shield can1416 to which the first prism 1404 may be attached via first prismholder 1412, and to which the second prism 1406 may be attached via thesecond prism holder 1414.

According to various embodiments, the shield can 1416 may define anaperture 1418 above the first prism 1404 such that light may enter thecamera 1400 and reach the first prism 1404. In some cases, the aperture1418 may be enclosed and/or sealed, e.g., via a transparent window. Assuch, dust particles may be prevented from entering the camera throughthe aperture 1418 and negatively impacting optical performance of thefirst prism 1404 and/or other components of the camera 1400 in someinstances. Although not illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the camera1400 may include one or more openings configured to allow ventilation.

In some embodiments, the camera 1400 may include a flex circuit 1420disposed below the first prism 1404, the lens group 1402, the secondprism 1406, the carrier structure 1408, and/or the fixed base structure1410. The flex circuit 1420 may include an interface 1422 configured toallow the camera 1400 to interface with one or more other componentsexternal to the camera 1400. The flex circuit 1420 may be used to conveydata signals and electrical power to and from the camera 1400.

In some embodiments, the camera 1400 may include a stiffener 1426 atleast partially below the flex circuit 1420. For instance, the stiffener1426 may be a folded stiffener, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B.According to some examples, the folded stiffener 1426 may include a baseportion below the flex circuit 1420 and tab portions that are eachfolded from the base portion to cover a respective side of the camera1400 and/or the shield can 1416. In some cases, the folded stiffener1426 may include three tab portions, with each tab portion covering aportion of a respective one of three sides of the camera 1400 and/or theshield can 1416. A fourth side of the camera 1400 and/or the shield can1416 may not have a corresponding tab portion that covers a portion ofit. For instance, the fourth side may be a side at which the flexcircuit 1420 extends outwardly to one or more components that areexternal to the camera 1400.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to distribute the weight ofcomponents of a camera system in a manner that avoids undesirablemoments (e.g., moments about the center of gravity of the lens group).For example, FIG. 15 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of anexample camera 1500 with a folded optics arrangement in which a densematerial may be added to provide such weight distribution.

In some embodiments, the camera 1500 may include a lens group 1502between a first prism 1504 and a second prism 1506. The lens group 1502may include one or more lens elements 1508 disposed within a lens holder1510.

In some embodiments, the first prism 1504 may be held within a firstprism holder 1512. Furthermore, the second prism 1506 may be held withina second prism holder 1514. The camera 1500 may include a shield can1516 to which the first prism 1504 may be attached via the first prismholder 1512. In some examples, a top and/or sides of the first prismholder 1512 may be adhered to the shield can 1516. Additionally, thesecond prism 1506 may be attached to the shield can 1516 via the secondprism holder 1514. In some examples, a top and/or sides of the secondprism holder 1512 may be adhered to the shield can 1516.

In some cases, the center of gravity of the lens group 1502 may belocated such that certain actuator arrangements may cause undesirablemoments about the center of gravity. In some cases, to counteract suchmoments, a dense material 1518 may be attached to the lens holder 1510.For instance, the dense material 1518 may be attached to a top portionof the lens holder 1510, e.g., as indicated in FIG. 15. In someembodiments, the dense material 1518 may not be attached to the lensholder 1510, but rather the dense material 1518 may be part of (e.g.,formed integrally with) the lens holder 1510.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of an example method 1600 for assembling acamera with a folded optics arrangement, in accordance with someembodiments.

At 1602, the method 1600 may include assembling an actuator module of acamera with a folded optics arrangement. For instance, at 1602 a,magnets and coils of

VCM actuators may be aligned or otherwise suitably positioned. In someexamples, assembling the actuator module may include, at 1602 b,coupling a carrier structure with a fixed base structure via one or moresuspension mechanisms. In some implementations, assembling the actuatormodule may include, at 1602 c, injecting damping material (e.g., aviscoelastic gel) into one or more pockets, e.g., to at least partiallysurround one or more suspension wires.

At 1604, the method 1600 may include performing active alignment of alens group of the folded optics arrangement to the carrier structure andaffixing the lens group to the carrier structure when the lens group isin an aligned position. At 1606, the method 1600 may include performingactive alignment of a first prism and/or a second prism of the foldedoptics arrangement to a shield can and affixing the prisms to the shieldcan when the prisms are in aligned positions. It should be understoodthat the active alignment with respect to the lens group may beperformed before, after, or contemporaneously with the active alignmentperformed with respect to the prisms.

At 1608, the method 1600 may include attaching the shield can to theassembled actuator module. At 1610, the method 1600 may includeattaching a substrate that is coupled with an image sensor to theactuator module. At 1612, the method 1600 may include attaching astiffener to the actuator module.

Multifunction Device Examples

Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, andassociated processes for using such devices are described. In someembodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as amobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/ormusic player functions. Example embodiments of portable multifunctiondevices include, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad®devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronicdevices, such as laptops, cameras, cell phones, or tablet computers, mayalso be used. It should also be understood that, in some embodiments,the device is not a portable communications device, but is a desktopcomputer with a camera. In some embodiments, the device is a gamingcomputer with orientation sensors (e.g., orientation sensors in a gamingcontroller). In other embodiments, the device is not a portablecommunications device, but is a camera.

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should beunderstood, however, that the electronic device may include one or moreother physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, amouse and/or a joystick.

The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one ormore of the following: a drawing application, a presentationapplication, a word processing application, a website creationapplication, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, agaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencingapplication, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, aworkout support application, a photo management application, a digitalcamera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, and/or a digital videoplayer application.

The various applications that may be executed on the device may use atleast one common physical user-interface device, such as thetouch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitivesurface as well as corresponding information displayed on the device maybe adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or withina respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture(such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the device may support thevariety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive andtransparent to the user.

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices withcameras. FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of an example portablemultifunction device 1700 that may include one or more cameras (e.g.,the cameras described above with reference to FIGS. 1-16), in accordancewith some embodiments. Cameras 1764 are sometimes called “opticalsensors” for convenience, and may also be known as or called an opticalsensor system. Device 1700 may include memory 1702 (which may includeone or more computer readable storage mediums), memory controller 1722,one or more processing units (CPUs) 1720, peripherals interface 1718, RFcircuitry 1708, audio circuitry 1710, speaker 1711, touch-sensitivedisplay system 1712, microphone 1713, input/output (I/O) subsystem 1706,other input or control devices 1716, and external port 1724. Device 1700may include multiple optical sensors 1764. These components maycommunicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines 1703.

It should be appreciated that device 1700 is only one example of aportable multifunction device, and that device 1700 may have more orfewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or mayhave a different configuration or arrangement of the components. Thevarious components shown in FIG. 17 may be implemented in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software, including one ormore signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory 1702 may include high-speed random access memory and may alsoinclude non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memorydevices. Access to memory 1702 by other components of device 1700, suchas CPU 1720 and the peripherals interface 1718, may be controlled bymemory controller 1722.

Peripherals interface 1718 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU 1720 and memory 1702. The one or moreprocessors 1720 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 1702 to perform various functions fordevice 1700 and to process data.

In some embodiments, peripherals interface 1718, CPU 1720, and memorycontroller 1722 may be implemented on a single chip, such as chip 1704.In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 1708 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 1708 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 1708 may include well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RFcircuitry 1708 may communicate with networks, such as the Internet, alsoreferred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wirelessnetwork, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local areanetwork (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and otherdevices by wireless communication. The wireless communication may useany of a variety of communications standards, protocols andtechnologies, including but not limited to Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), high-speeddownlink packet access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSDPA),wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multipleaccess (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/orIEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocolfor e-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP) and/or postoffice protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensible messagingand presence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol for InstantMessaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messagingand Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or anyother suitable communication protocol, including communication protocolsnot yet developed as of the filing date of this document.

Audio circuitry 1710, speaker 1711, and microphone 1713 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 1700. Audio circuitry 1710 receivesaudio data from peripherals interface 1718, converts the audio data toan electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker1711. Speaker 1711 converts the electrical signal to human-audible soundwaves. Audio circuitry 1710 also receives electrical signals convertedby microphone 1713 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 1710 converts theelectrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data toperipherals interface 1718 for processing. Audio data may be retrievedfrom and/or transmitted to memory 1702 and/or RF circuitry 1708 byperipherals interface 1718. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 1710also includes a headset jack (e.g., 1812, FIG. 18). The headset jackprovides an interface between audio circuitry 1710 and removable audioinput/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headsetwith both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input(e.g., a microphone).

I/O subsystem 1706 couples input/output peripherals on device 1700, suchas touch screen 1712 and other input control devices 1716, toperipherals interface 1718. I/O subsystem 1706 may include displaycontroller 1756 and one or more input controllers 1760 for other inputor control devices. The one or more input controllers 1760 receive/sendelectrical signals from/to other input or control devices 1716. Theother input control devices 1716 may include physical buttons (e.g.,push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks,click wheels, and so forth. In some alternate embodiments, inputcontroller(s) 1760 may be coupled to any (or none) of the following: akeyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse.The one or more buttons (e.g., 1208, FIG. 12) may include an up/downbutton for volume control of speaker 1711 and/or microphone 1713. Theone or more buttons may include a push button (e.g., 1806, FIG. 18).

Touch-sensitive display 1712 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. Display controller 1756receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 1712.Touch screen 1712 displays visual output to the user. The visual outputmay include graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof(collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all ofthe visual output may correspond to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 1712 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set ofsensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactilecontact. Touch screen 1712 and display controller 1756 (along with anyassociated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory 1702) detectcontact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen1712 and converts the detected contact into interaction withuser-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages orimages) that are displayed on touch screen 1712. In an exampleembodiment, a point of contact between touch screen 1712 and the usercorresponds to a finger of the user.

Touch screen 1712 may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD(light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emittingdiode) technology, although other display technologies may be used inother embodiments. Touch screen 1712 and display controller 1756 maydetect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of avariety of touch sensing technologies now known or later developed,including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, andsurface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensorarrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contactwith touch screen 1712. In an example embodiment, projected mutualcapacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in theiPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

Touch screen 1712 may have a video resolution in excess of 800 dpi. Insome embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution ofapproximately 860 dpi. The user may make contact with touch screen 1712using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, andso forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to workprimarily with finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be lessprecise than stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of afinger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translatesthe rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position orcommand for performing the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 1700 mayinclude a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particularfunctions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive areaof the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visualoutput. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separatefrom touch screen 1712 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surfaceformed by the touch screen.

Device 1700 also includes power system 1762 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 1762 may include a power management system, oneor more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), arecharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converteror inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode(LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

Device 1700 may also include one or more optical sensors or cameras1764. FIG. 17 shows an optical sensor 1764 coupled to optical sensorcontroller 1758 in I/O subsystem 1706. Optical sensor 1764 may includecharge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor(CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor 1764 receives light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the lightto data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module 1743(also called a camera module), optical sensor 1764 may capture stillimages or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor 1764 is locatedon the back of device 1700, opposite touch screen display 1712 on thefront of the device, so that the touch screen display 1712 may be usedas a viewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In someembodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of thedevice so that the user's image may be obtained for videoconferencingwhile the user views the other video conference participants on thetouch screen display.

Device 1700 may also include one or more proximity sensors 1766. FIG. 17shows proximity sensor 1766 coupled to peripherals interface 1718.Alternately, proximity sensor 1766 may be coupled to input controller1760 in I/O subsystem 1706. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor1766 turns off and disables touch screen 1712 when the multifunctiondevice 1700 is placed near the user's ear (e.g., when the user is makinga phone call).

Device 1700 includes one or more orientation sensors 1768. In someembodiments, the one or more orientation sensors 1768 include one ormore accelerometers (e.g., one or more linear accelerometers and/or oneor more rotational accelerometers). In some embodiments, the one or moreorientation sensors 1768 include one or more gyroscopes. In someembodiments, the one or more orientation sensors 1768 include one ormore magnetometers. In some embodiments, the one or more orientationsensors 1768 include one or more of global positioning system (GPS),Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), and/or other globalnavigation system receivers. The GPS, GLONASS, and/or other globalnavigation system receivers may be used for obtaining informationconcerning the location and orientation (e.g., portrait or landscape) ofdevice 1700. In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors1768 include any combination of orientation/rotation sensors. FIG. 17shows the one or more orientation sensors 1768 coupled to peripheralsinterface 1718. Alternately, the one or more orientation sensors 1768may be coupled to an input controller 1760 in I/O subsystem 1706. Insome embodiments, information is displayed on the touch screen display1712 in a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of datareceived from the one or more orientation sensors 1768.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 1702include operating system 1726, communication module (or set ofinstructions) 1728, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 1730,graphics module (or set of instructions) 1732, text input module (or setof instructions) 1734, Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set ofinstructions) 1735, arbiter module 1758 and applications (or sets ofinstructions) 1736. Furthermore, in some embodiments memory 1702 storesdevice/global internal state 1757. Device/global internal state 1757includes one or more of: active application state, indicating whichapplications, if any, are currently active; display state, indicatingwhat applications, views or other information occupy various regions oftouch screen display 1712; sensor state, including information obtainedfrom the device's various sensors and input control devices 1716; andlocation information concerning the device's location and/or attitude.

Operating system 1726 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS,or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes varioussoftware components and/or drivers for controlling and managing generalsystem tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, powermanagement, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardwareand software components.

Communication module 1728 facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports 1724 and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by RF circuitry 1708 and/orexternal port 1724. External port 1724 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus(USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devicesor indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.).In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin)connector.

Contact/motion module 1730 may detect contact with touch screen 1712 (inconjunction with display controller 1756) and other touch sensitivedevices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motionmodule 1730 includes various software components for performing variousoperations related to detection of contact, such as determining ifcontact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determiningif there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-draggingevents), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting afinger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module 1730receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determiningmovement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series ofcontact data, may include determining speed (magnitude), velocity(magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitudeand/or direction) of the point of contact. These operations may beapplied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiplesimultaneous contacts (e.g., “multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). Insome embodiments, contact/motion module 1730 and display controller 1756detect contact on a touchpad.

Contact/motion module 1730 may detect a gesture input by a user.Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contactpatterns. Thus, a gesture may be detected by detecting a particularcontact pattern. For example, detecting a finger tap gesture includesdetecting a finger-down event followed by detecting a finger-up (liftoff) event at the same position (or substantially the same position) asthe finger-down event (e.g., at the position of an icon). As anotherexample, detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surfaceincludes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting one or morefinger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by detecting afinger-up (lift off) event.

Graphics module 1732 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 1712 or other display,including components for changing the intensity of graphics that aredisplayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” includes any object thatcan be displayed to a user, including without limitation text, webpages, icons (such as user-interface objects including soft keys),digital images, videos, animations and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 1732 stores data representinggraphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a corresponding code.Graphics module 1732 receives, from applications etc., one or more codesspecifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinatedata and other graphic property data, and then generates screen imagedata to output to display controller 1756.

Text input module 1734, which may be a component of graphics module1732, provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications(e.g., contacts 1737, e-mail 1740, IM 1741, browser 1747, and any otherapplication that needs text input).

GPS module 1735 determines the location of the device and provides thisinformation for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 1738 foruse in location-based dialing, to camera 1743 as picture/video metadata,and to applications that provide location-based services such as weatherwidgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).

Applications 1736 may include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   contacts module 1737 (sometimes called an address book or contact    list);-   telephone module 1738;-   video conferencing module 1739;-   e-mail client module 1740;-   instant messaging (IM) module 1741;-   workout support module 1742;-   camera module 1743 for still and/or video images;-   image management module 1744;-   browser module 1747;-   calendar module 1748;-   widget modules 1749, which may include one or more of: weather    widget 1749-1, stocks widget 1749-2, calculator widget 1749-3, alarm    clock widget 1749-4, dictionary widget 1749-5, and other widgets    obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets 1749-6;-   widget creator module 1750 for making user-created widgets 1749-6;-   search module 1751;-   video and music player module 1752, which may be made up of a video    player module and a music player module;-   notes module 1753;-   map module 1754; and/or-   online video module 1755.

Examples of other applications 1736 that may be stored in memory 1702include other word processing applications, other image editingapplications, drawing applications, presentation applications,JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voicerecognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch screen 1712, display controller 1756, contactmodule 1730, graphics module 1732, and text input module 1734, contactsmodule 1737 may be used to manage an address book or contact list (e.g.,stored in application internal state 1757), including: adding name(s) tothe address book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associatingtelephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or otherinformation with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizingand sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses toinitiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone 1738, videoconference 1739, e-mail 1740, or IM 1741; and so forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, audio circuitry 1710, speaker1711, microphone 1713, touch screen 1712, display controller 1756,contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, and text input module 1734,telephone module 1738 may be used to enter a sequence of characterscorresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephonenumbers in address book 1737, modify a telephone number that has beenentered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation anddisconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As notedabove, the wireless communication may use any of a variety ofcommunications standards, protocols and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, audio circuitry 1710, speaker1711, microphone 1713, touch screen 1712, display controller 1756,optical sensor 1764, optical sensor controller 1758, contact module1730, graphics module 1732, text input module 1734, contact list 1737,and telephone module 1738, videoconferencing module 1739 includesexecutable instructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a videoconference between a user and one or more other participants inaccordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, touch screen 1712, displaycontroller 1756, contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, and textinput module 1734, e-mail client module 1740 includes executableinstructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response touser instructions. In conjunction with image management module 1744,e-mail client module 1740 makes it very easy to create and send e-mailswith still or video images taken with camera module 1743.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, touch screen 1712, displaycontroller 1756, contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, and textinput module 1734, the instant messaging module 1741 includes executableinstructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to aninstant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit arespective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service(SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-basedinstant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-basedinstant messages), to receive instant messages and to view receivedinstant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or receivedinstant messages may include graphics, photos, audio files, video filesand/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an EnhancedMessaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers toboth telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) andInternet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, orIMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, touch screen 1712, displaycontroller 1756, contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, text inputmodule 1734, GPS module 1735, map module 1754, and music player module1746, workout support module 1742 includes executable instructions tocreate workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burninggoals); communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receiveworkout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; selectand play music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workoutdata.

In conjunction with touch screen 1712, display controller 1756, opticalsensor(s) 1764, optical sensor controller 1758, contact module 1730,graphics module 1732, and image management module 1744, camera module1743 includes executable instructions to capture still images or video(including a video stream) and store them into memory 1702, modifycharacteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image orvideo from memory 1702.

In conjunction with touch screen 1712, display controller 1756, contactmodule 1730, graphics module 1732, text input module 1734, and cameramodule 1743, image management module 1744 includes executableinstructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate,label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), andstore still and/or video images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, touch screen 1712, display systemcontroller 1756, contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, and textinput module 1734, browser module 1747 includes executable instructionsto browse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, includingsearching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portionsthereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, touch screen 1712, display systemcontroller 1756, contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, text inputmodule 1734, e-mail client module 1740, and browser module 1747,calendar module 1748 includes executable instructions to create,display, modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars(e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with userinstructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, touch screen 1712, display systemcontroller 1756, contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, text inputmodule 1734, and browser module 1747, widget modules 1749 aremini-applications that may be downloaded and used by a user (e.g.,weather widget 549-1, stocks widget 549-2, calculator widget 1749-3,alarm clock widget 1749-4, and dictionary widget 1749-5) or created bythe user (e.g., user-created widget 1749-6). In some embodiments, awidget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS(Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In someembodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) fileand a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, touch screen 1712, display systemcontroller 1756, contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, text inputmodule 1734, and browser module 1747, the widget creator module 1750 maybe used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specifiedportion of a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch screen 1712, display system controller 1756,contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, and text input module 1734,search module 1751 includes executable instructions to search for text,music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 1702 that matchone or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified searchterms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 1712, display system controller 1756,contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, audio circuitry 1710, speaker1711, RF circuitry 1708, and browser module 1747, video and music playermodule 1752 includes executable instructions that allow the user todownload and play back recorded music and other sound files stored inone or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executableinstructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., ontouch screen 1712 or on an external, connected display via external port1724). In some embodiments, device 1700 may include the functionality ofan MP3 player.

In conjunction with touch screen 1712, display controller 1756, contactmodule 1730, graphics module 1732, and text input module 1734, notesmodule 1753 includes executable instructions to create and manage notes,to do lists, and the like in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1708, touch screen 1712, display systemcontroller 1756, contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, text inputmodule 1734,

GPS module 1735, and browser module 1747, map module 1754 may be used toreceive, display, modify, and store maps and data associated with maps(e.g., driving directions; data on stores and other points of interestat or near a particular location; and other location-based data) inaccordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 1712, display system controller 1756,contact module 1730, graphics module 1732, audio circuitry 1710, speaker1711, RF circuitry 1708, text input module 1734, e-mail client module1740, and browser module 1747, online video module 1755 includesinstructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., bystreaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or onan external, connected display via external port 1724), send an e-mailwith a link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage onlinevideos in one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments,instant messaging module 1741, rather than e-mail client module 1740, isused to send a link to a particular online video.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 1702 maystore a subset of the modules and data structures identified above.Furthermore, memory 1702 may store additional modules and datastructures not described above.

In some embodiments, device 1700 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/ora touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device1700, the number of physical input control devices (such as pushbuttons, dials, and the like) on device 1700 may be reduced.

The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between userinterfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user,navigates device 1700 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that may be displayed on device 1700. In such embodiments, thetouchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some otherembodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or otherphysical input control device instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 18 depicts illustrates an example portable multifunction device1700 that may include one or more cameras (e.g., the cameras describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1-16), in accordance with someembodiments. The device 1700 may have a touch screen 1702. The touchscreen 1718 may display one or more graphics within user interface (UI)1800. In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user mayselect one or more of the graphics by making a gesture on the graphics,for example, with one or more fingers 1802 (not drawn to scale in thefigure) or one or more styluses 1803 (not drawn to scale in the figure).

Device 1700 may also include one or more physical buttons, such as“home” or menu button 1804. As described previously, menu button 1804may be used to navigate to any application 1736 in a set of applicationsthat may be executed on device 1700. Alternatively, in some embodiments,the menu button 1804 is implemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed ontouch screen 1712.

In one embodiment, device 1700 includes touch screen 1712, menu button1804, push button 1806 for powering the device on/off and locking thedevice, volume adjustment button(s) 1808, Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card slot 1810, head set jack 1812, and docking/charging externalport 1824. Push button 1806 may be used to turn the power on/off on thedevice by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressedstate for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressingthe button and releasing the button before the predefined time intervalhas elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process.In an alternative embodiment, device 1700 also may accept verbal inputfor activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone1713.

It should be noted that, although many of the examples herein are givenwith reference to optical sensor(s)/camera(s) 1764 (on the front of adevice), one or more rear-facing cameras or optical sensors that arepointed opposite from the display may be used instead of, or in additionto, an optical sensor(s)/camera(s) 1764 on the front of a device.

Example Computer System

FIG. 19 illustrates an example computer system 1900 that may include oneor more cameras (e.g., the cameras described above with reference toFIGS. 1-16), according to some embodiments. The computer system 1900 maybe configured to execute any or all of the embodiments described above.In different embodiments, computer system 1900 may be any of varioustypes of devices, including, but not limited to, a personal computersystem, desktop computer, laptop, notebook, tablet, slate, pad, ornetbook computer, mainframe computer system, handheld computer,workstation, network computer, a camera, a set top box, a mobile device,a consumer device, video game console, handheld video game device,application server, storage device, a television, a video recordingdevice, a peripheral device such as a switch, modem, router, or ingeneral any type of computing or electronic device.

Various embodiments of a camera motion control system as describedherein, including embodiments of magnetic position sensing, as describedherein may be executed in one or more computer systems 1900, which mayinteract with various other devices. Note that any component, action, orfunctionality described above with respect to FIGS. 1-18 may beimplemented on one or more computers configured as computer system 1900of FIG. 19, according to various embodiments. In the illustratedembodiment, computer system 1900 includes one or more processors 1910coupled to a system memory 1920 via an input/output (I/O) interface1930. Computer system 1900 further includes a network interface 1940coupled to I/O interface 1930, and one or more input/output devices1950, such as cursor control device 1960, keyboard 1970, and display(s)1980. In some cases, it is contemplated that embodiments may beimplemented using a single instance of computer system 1900, while inother embodiments multiple such systems, or multiple nodes making upcomputer system 1900, may be configured to host different portions orinstances of embodiments. For example, in one embodiment some elementsmay be implemented via one or more nodes of computer system 1900 thatare distinct from those nodes implementing other elements.

In various embodiments, computer system 1900 may be a uniprocessorsystem including one processor 1910, or a multiprocessor systemincluding several processors 1910 (e.g., two, four, eight, or anothersuitable number). Processors 1910 may be any suitable processor capableof executing instructions. For example, in various embodimentsprocessors 1910 may be general-purpose or embedded processorsimplementing any of a variety of instruction set architectures (ISAs),such as the x86, PowerPC, SPARC, or MIPS ISAs, or any other suitableISA. In multiprocessor systems, each of processors 1910 may commonly,but not necessarily, implement the same ISA.

System memory 1920 may be configured to store camera control programinstructions 1922 and/or camera control data accessible by processor1910. In various embodiments, system memory 1920 may be implementedusing any suitable memory technology, such as static random accessmemory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), nonvolatile/Flash-typememory, or any other type of memory. In the illustrated embodiment,program instructions 1922 may be configured to implement a lens controlapplication 1924 incorporating any of the functionality described above.Additionally, existing camera control data 1932 of memory 1920 mayinclude any of the information or data structures described above. Insome embodiments, program instructions and/or data may be received, sentor stored upon different types of computer-accessible media or onsimilar media separate from system memory 1920 or computer system 1900.While computer system 1900 is described as implementing thefunctionality of functional blocks of previous Figures, any of thefunctionality described herein may be implemented via such a computersystem.

In one embodiment, I/O interface 1930 may be configured to coordinateI/O traffic between processor 1910, system memory 1920, and anyperipheral devices in the device, including network interface 1940 orother peripheral interfaces, such as input/output devices 1950. In someembodiments, I/O interface 1930 may perform any necessary protocol,timing or other data transformations to convert data signals from onecomponent (e.g., system memory 1920) into a format suitable for use byanother component (e.g., processor 1910). In some embodiments, I/Ointerface 1930 may include support for devices attached through varioustypes of peripheral buses, such as a variant of the Peripheral ComponentInterconnect (PCI) bus standard or the Universal Serial Bus (USB)standard, for example. In some embodiments, the function of I/Ointerface 1930 may be split into two or more separate components, suchas a north bridge and a south bridge, for example. Also, in someembodiments some or all of the functionality of I/O interface 1930, suchas an interface to system memory 1920, may be incorporated directly intoprocessor 1910.

Network interface 1940 may be configured to allow data to be exchangedbetween computer system 1900 and other devices attached to a network1985 (e.g., carrier or agent devices) or between nodes of computersystem 1900. Network 1985 may in various embodiments include one or morenetworks including but not limited to Local Area Networks (LANs) (e.g.,an Ethernet or corporate network), Wide Area Networks (WANs) (e.g., theInternet), wireless data networks, some other electronic data network,or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, network interface1940 may support communication via wired or wireless general datanetworks, such as any suitable type of Ethernet network, for example;via telecommunications/telephony networks such as analog voice networksor digital fiber communications networks; via storage area networks suchas Fibre Channel SANs, or via any other suitable type of network and/orprotocol.

Input/output devices 1950 may, in some embodiments, include one or moredisplay terminals, keyboards, keypads, touchpads, scanning devices,voice or optical recognition devices, or any other devices suitable forentering or accessing data by one or more computer systems 1900.Multiple input/output devices 1950 may be present in computer system1900 or may be distributed on various nodes of computer system 1900. Insome embodiments, similar input/output devices may be separate fromcomputer system 1900 and may interact with one or more nodes of computersystem 1900 through a wired or wireless connection, such as over networkinterface 1940.

As shown in FIG. 19, memory 1920 may include program instructions 1922,which may be processor-executable to implement any element or actiondescribed above. In one embodiment, the program instructions mayimplement the methods described above. In other embodiments, differentelements and data may be included. Note that data may include any dataor information described above.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that computer system 1900 ismerely illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope ofembodiments. In particular, the computer system and devices may includeany combination of hardware or software that can perform the indicatedfunctions, including computers, network devices, Internet appliances,PDAs, wireless phones, pagers, etc. Computer system 1900 may also beconnected to other devices that are not illustrated, or instead mayoperate as a stand-alone system. In addition, the functionality providedby the illustrated components may in some embodiments be combined infewer components or distributed in additional components. Similarly, insome embodiments, the functionality of some of the illustratedcomponents may not be provided and/or other additional functionality maybe available.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that, while various itemsare illustrated as being stored in memory or on storage while beingused, these items or portions of them may be transferred between memoryand other storage devices for purposes of memory management and dataintegrity. Alternatively, in other embodiments some or all of thesoftware components may execute in memory on another device andcommunicate with the illustrated computer system via inter-computercommunication. Some or all of the system components or data structuresmay also be stored (e.g., as instructions or structured data) on acomputer-accessible medium or a portable article to be read by anappropriate drive, various examples of which are described above. Insome embodiments, instructions stored on a computer-accessible mediumseparate from computer system 1900 may be transmitted to computer system1900 via transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as a network and/or a wireless link. Various embodiments mayfurther include receiving, sending or storing instructions and/or dataimplemented in accordance with the foregoing description upon acomputer-accessible medium. Generally speaking, a computer-accessiblemedium may include a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium ormemory medium such as magnetic or optical media, e.g., disk orDVD/CD-ROM, volatile or non-volatile media such as RAM (e.g. SDRAM, DDR,RDRAM, SRAM, etc.), ROM, etc. In some embodiments, a computer-accessiblemedium may include transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as network and/or a wireless link.

The methods described herein may be implemented in software, hardware,or a combination thereof, in different embodiments. In addition, theorder of the blocks of the methods may be changed, and various elementsmay be added, reordered, combined, omitted, modified, etc. Variousmodifications and changes may be made as would be obvious to a personskilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The variousembodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative and notlimiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvementsare possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided forcomponents described herein as a single instance. Boundaries betweenvarious components, operations and data stores are somewhat arbitrary,and particular operations are illustrated in the context of specificillustrative configurations.

Additional descriptions of embodiments (example clauses):

Clause 1: A camera, comprising: a folded optics arrangement to fold apath of light, the folded optics arrangement comprising: a first prism;a second prism; and a lens group disposed between the first prism andthe second prism, wherein the lens group includes one or more lenselements; an image sensor to capture light that has passed through thefirst prism, the lens group, and the second prism; an actuator module tomove the lens group along multiple axes; and a carrier structure that atleast partially encircles the folded optics arrangement, wherein thecarrier structure is coupled with the lens group such that the carrierstructure and the lens group are moveable together relative to the imagesensor.

Clause 2: The camera of Clause 1, wherein the actuator module comprises:a first optical image stabilization (OIS) voice coil motor (VCM)actuator to move the lens group to provide OIS movement of an image,captured via the image sensor, in at least a first direction; a secondOIS VCM actuator to move the lens group to provide OIS movement of theimage in at least a second direction that is orthogonal to the firstdirection; and an autofocus (AF) VCM actuator to move the lens group toprovide AF movement of the image in at least a third direction that isorthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

Clause 3: The camera of any of Clauses 1-2, wherein: the actuator modulecomprises: one or more magnets; and one or more coils; the carrierstructure comprises an inner frame to which at least one coil of the oneor more coils is attached; and the camera further comprises: an outerframe to which at least one magnet of the one or more magnets isattached, wherein the outer frame at least partially encircles the innerframe.

Clause 4: The camera of any of Clauses 1-3, further comprising: asuspension arrangement to suspend the lens group and allow movement ofthe lens group along the multiple axes, wherein the suspensionarrangement comprises: a leaf spring attached to the carrier structure;and suspension wires, wherein a suspension wire of the suspension wirescomprises: a first end portion attached to the leaf spring; and a secondend portion attached to a fixed structure that is stationary relative tomovement of the lens group.

Clause 5: The camera of any of Clauses 1-4, wherein: the first prism andthe second prism are positioned along an optical axis defined by thelens group; and the image sensor defines a plane that is parallel to theoptical axis.

Clause 6: A device, comprising: one or more processors; memory storingprogram instructions executable by the one or more processors to controloperation of a camera; and the camera, comprising: a folded opticsarrangement to fold a path of light, the folded optics arrangementcomprising: a first prism; a second prism; and a lens group disposedbetween the first prism and the second prism, wherein the lens groupincludes one or more lens elements; an image sensor to capture lightthat has passed through the first prism, the lens group, and the secondprism; an actuator module to move the lens group along multiple axes;and a carrier structure that at least partially encircles the foldedoptics arrangement, wherein the carrier structure is coupled with thelens group such that the carrier structure and the lens group aremoveable together relative to the image sensor.

Clause 7: The device of Clause 6, wherein the one or more processors arefurther to: cause the actuator module to move the carrier structure, inat least a first direction parallel to an optical axis defined by thelens group, to provide autofocus (AF) movement of an image captured viathe image sensor; cause the actuator module to move the carrierstructure, in at least a second direction that is orthogonal to thefirst direction, to provide optical image stabilization movement of theimage; and cause the actuator module to move the carrier structure, inat least a third direction that is orthogonal to the first direction andthe second direction.

Clause 8: The device of any of Clauses 6-7, wherein: the actuator modulecomprises: one or more magnets; and one or more coils; the carrierstructure comprises an inner frame to which at least one coil of the oneor more coils is attached; and the camera further comprises: an outerframe to which at least one magnet of the one or more magnets isattached, wherein the outer frame at least partially encircles the innerframe.

Clause 9: The device of any of Clauses 6-8, wherein: the first prismcomprises: an object side through which light enters the first prism;and a first reflecting surface side comprising a first reflectivesurface to redirect the light towards the lens group; and the secondprism comprises: a second reflecting surface side comprising a secondreflective surface to redirect the light towards the image sensor; andan image side through which the light exits the first prism, the imageside proximate the image sensor.

Clause 10: The device of any of Clauses 6-9, wherein: the firstreflecting surface side is angled relative to the object side of thefirst prism; and the actuator module comprises a voice coil motor (VCM)actuator having at least one magnet and at least one coil disposedwithin a space under the first reflecting surface side.

Clause 11: The device of any of Clauses 6-10, wherein the VCM actuatorcomprises an autofocus (AF) actuator to move the carrier structure, inat least a first direction parallel to an optical axis defined by thelens group, to provide AF movement of an image captured via the imagesensor.

Clause 12: The device of any of Clauses 6-11, wherein the camera furthercomprises: a suspension arrangement to suspend the lens group and allowmovement of the lens group along the multiple axes, wherein thesuspension arrangement comprises: a leaf spring attached to the carrierstructure; and suspension wires, wherein a suspension wire of thesuspension wires comprises: a first end portion attached to the leafspring; and a second end portion attached to a fixed structure that isstationary relative to movement of the lens group.

Clause 13: The device of any of Clauses 6-12, wherein: the leaf springis an upper leaf spring attached to a top surface of the carrierstructure, the upper leaf spring extending along a first plane that isparallel to the image sensor; the suspension wire is a first suspensionwire that extends from the upper leaf spring in a first direction thatis orthogonal to an optical axis defined by the lens group; thesuspension arrangement further comprises a lower leaf spring attached toa bottom surface of the carrier structure, the lower leaf springextending along a second plane that is parallel to the image sensor; andthe suspension wires further comprise a second suspension wire thatextends from the lower leaf spring in a second direction opposite thefirst direction.

Clause 14: The device of any of Clauses 6-13, wherein: the carrierstructure comprises an inner frame; and the camera further comprises: anouter frame that at least partially encircles the inner frame; and asuspension arrangement to suspend the lens group and allow movement ofthe lens group along the multiple axes, wherein the suspensionarrangement comprises: flexure arms to mechanically connect the innerframe to the outer frame, the flexure arms extending along a plane thatis parallel to the image sensor.

Clause 15: The device of any of Clauses 6-14, wherein: the camerafurther comprises a lens holder to hold the lens group; and the carrierstructure is fixedly attached to the lens holder.

Clause 16: A folded optics system, comprising: a lens group includingone or more lens elements; a first prism to redirect light to the lensgroup; a second prism to receive the light from the lens group andredirect the light to an image sensor; an actuator module to move thelens group along multiple axes; and a carrier structure to couple withthe lens group such that the carrier structure and the lens group aremoveable together relative to the image sensor, wherein the carrierstructure is to at least partially encircle the lens group, the firstprism, and the second prism.

Clause 17: The folded optics system of Clause 16, wherein the actuatormodule comprises: a first optical image stabilization (OIS) voice coilmotor (VCM) actuator to move the lens group to provide OIS movement ofan image, captured via the image sensor, in at least a first direction;a second OIS VCM actuator to move the lens group to provide OIS movementof the image in at least a second direction that is orthogonal to thefirst direction; and an autofocus (AF) VCM actuator to move the lensgroup to provide AF movement of the image in at least a third directionthat is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

Clause 18: The folded optics system of any of Clauses 16-17, wherein:the actuator module comprises: one or more magnets; and one or morecoils; a first portion of the actuator module is attached to the carrierstructure; and a second portion of the actuator module is attached to abase structure that is fixed relative to movement of the carrierstructure.

Clause 19: The folded optics system of any of Clauses 16-18, wherein:the first prism comprises: an object side through which light enters thefirst prism; and a first reflecting surface side comprising a firstreflective surface to redirect the light to the lens group; the secondprism comprises: a second reflecting surface side comprising a secondreflective surface to redirect the light to the image sensor; an imageside through which the light exits the first prism, the image sideproximate the image sensor; the first reflecting surface side is angledrelative to the object side of the first prism; and the actuator modulecomprises a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator having at least one magnetand at least one coil disposed within a space under the first reflectingsurface side.

Clause 20: The folded optics system of any of Clauses 16-19, wherein:the lens group is disposed between the first prism and the second prism;and the first prism and the prism are positioned along an optical axisdefined by the lens group.

Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall withinthe scope of claims that follow. Finally, structures and functionalitypresented as discrete components in the example configurations may beimplemented as a combined structure or component. These and othervariations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall withinthe scope of embodiments as defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera, comprising: a folded optics arrangementto fold a path of light, the folded optics arrangement comprising: afirst prism; a second prism; and a lens group disposed between the firstprism and the second prism, wherein the lens group includes one or morelens elements; an image sensor to capture light that has passed throughthe first prism, the lens group, and the second prism; an actuatormodule to move the lens group along multiple axes; and a carrierstructure that at least partially encircles the folded opticsarrangement, wherein the carrier structure is coupled with the lensgroup such that the carrier structure and the lens group are moveabletogether relative to the image sensor.
 2. The camera of claim 1, whereinthe actuator module comprises: a first optical image stabilization (OIS)voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move the lens group to provide OISmovement of an image, captured via the image sensor, in at least a firstdirection; a second OIS VCM actuator to move the lens group to provideOIS movement of the image in at least a second direction that isorthogonal to the first direction; and an autofocus (AF) VCM actuator tomove the lens group to provide AF movement of the image in at least athird direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and the seconddirection.
 3. The camera of claim 4, wherein: the actuator modulecomprises: one or more magnets; and one or more coils; the carrierstructure comprises an inner frame to which at least one coil of the oneor more coils is attached; and the camera further comprises: an outerframe to which at least one magnet of the one or more magnets isattached, wherein the outer frame at least partially encircles the innerframe.
 4. The camera of claim 1, further comprising: a suspensionarrangement to suspend the lens group and allow movement of the lensgroup along the multiple axes, wherein the suspension arrangementcomprises: a leaf spring attached to the carrier structure; andsuspension wires, wherein a suspension wire of the suspension wirescomprises: a first end portion attached to the leaf spring; and a secondend portion attached to a fixed structure that is stationary relative tomovement of the lens group.
 5. The camera of claim 1, wherein: the firstprism and the second prism are positioned along an optical axis definedby the lens group; and the image sensor defines a plane that is parallelto the optical axis.
 6. A device, comprising: one or more processors;memory storing program instructions executable by the one or moreprocessors to control operation of a camera; and the camera, comprising:a folded optics arrangement to fold a path of light, the folded opticsarrangement comprising: a first prism; a second prism; and a lens groupdisposed between the first prism and the second prism, wherein the lensgroup includes one or more lens elements; an image sensor to capturelight that has passed through the first prism, the lens group, and thesecond prism; an actuator module to move the lens group along multipleaxes; and a carrier structure that at least partially encircles thefolded optics arrangement, wherein the carrier structure is coupled withthe lens group such that the carrier structure and the lens group aremoveable together relative to the image sensor.
 7. The device of claim6, wherein the one or more processors are further to: cause the actuatormodule to move the carrier structure, in at least a first directionparallel to an optical axis defined by the lens group, to provideautofocus (AF) movement of an image captured via the image sensor; causethe actuator module to move the carrier structure, in at least a seconddirection that is orthogonal to the first direction, to provide opticalimage stabilization movement of the image; and cause the actuator moduleto move the carrier structure, in at least a third direction that isorthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.
 8. Thedevice of claim 6, wherein: the actuator module comprises: one or moremagnets; and one or more coils; the carrier structure comprises an innerframe to which at least one coil of the one or more coils is attached;and the camera further comprises: an outer frame to which at least onemagnet of the one or more magnets is attached, wherein the outer frameat least partially encircles the inner frame.
 9. The device of claim 6,wherein: the first prism comprises: an object side through which lightenters the first prism; and a first reflecting surface side comprising afirst reflective surface to redirect the light towards the lens group;and the second prism comprises: a second reflecting surface sidecomprising a second reflective surface to redirect the light towards theimage sensor; and an image side through which the light exits the firstprism, the image side proximate the image sensor.
 10. The device ofclaim 9, wherein: the first reflecting surface side is angled relativeto the object side of the first prism; and the actuator module comprisesa voice coil motor (VCM) actuator having at least one magnet and atleast one coil disposed within a space under the first reflectingsurface side.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the VCM actuatorcomprises an autofocus (AF) actuator to move the carrier structure, inat least a first direction parallel to an optical axis defined by thelens group, to provide AF movement of an image captured via the imagesensor.
 12. The device of claim 6, wherein the camera further comprises:a suspension arrangement to suspend the lens group and allow movement ofthe lens group along the multiple axes, wherein the suspensionarrangement comprises: a leaf spring attached to the carrier structure;and suspension wires, wherein a suspension wire of the suspension wirescomprises: a first end portion attached to the leaf spring; and a secondend portion attached to a fixed structure that is stationary relative tomovement of the lens group.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein: theleaf spring is an upper leaf spring attached to a top surface of thecarrier structure, the upper leaf spring extending along a first planethat is parallel to the image sensor; the suspension wire is a firstsuspension wire that extends from the upper leaf spring in a firstdirection that is orthogonal to an optical axis defined by the lensgroup; the suspension arrangement further comprises a lower leaf springattached to a bottom surface of the carrier structure, the lower leafspring extending along a second plane that is parallel to the imagesensor; and the suspension wires further comprise a second suspensionwire that extends from the lower leaf spring in a second directionopposite the first direction.
 14. The device of claim 6, wherein: thecarrier structure comprises an inner frame; and the camera furthercomprises: an outer frame that at least partially encircles the innerframe; and a suspension arrangement to suspend the lens group and allowmovement of the lens group along the multiple axes, wherein thesuspension arrangement comprises: flexure arms to mechanically connectthe inner frame to the outer frame, the flexure arms extending along aplane that is parallel to the image sensor.
 15. The device of claim 6,wherein: the camera further comprises a lens holder to hold the lensgroup; and the carrier structure is fixedly attached to the lens holder.16. A folded optics system, comprising: a lens group including one ormore lens elements; a first prism to redirect light to the lens group; asecond prism to receive the light from the lens group and redirect thelight to an image sensor; an actuator module to move the lens groupalong multiple axes; and a carrier structure to couple with the lensgroup such that the carrier structure and the lens group are moveabletogether relative to the image sensor, wherein the carrier structure isto at least partially encircle the lens group, the first prism, and thesecond prism.
 17. The folded optics system of claim 16, wherein theactuator module comprises: a first optical image stabilization (OIS)voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move the lens group to provide OISmovement of an image, captured via the image sensor, in at least a firstdirection; a second OIS VCM actuator to move the lens group to provideOIS movement of the image in at least a second direction that isorthogonal to the first direction; and an autofocus (AF) VCM actuator tomove the lens group to provide AF movement of the image in at least athird direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and the seconddirection.
 18. The folded optics system of claim 16, wherein: theactuator module comprises: one or more magnets; and one or more coils; afirst portion of the actuator module is attached to the carrierstructure; and a second portion of the actuator module is attached to abase structure that is fixed relative to movement of the carrierstructure.
 19. The folded optics system of claim 16, wherein: the firstprism comprises: an object side through which light enters the firstprism; and a first reflecting surface side comprising a first reflectivesurface to redirect the light to the lens group; the second prismcomprises: a second reflecting surface side comprising a secondreflective surface to redirect the light to the image sensor; an imageside through which the light exits the first prism, the image sideproximate the image sensor; the first reflecting surface side is angledrelative to the object side of the first prism; and the actuator modulecomprises a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator having at least one magnetand at least one coil disposed within a space under the first reflectingsurface side.
 20. The folded optics system of claim 16, wherein: thelens group is disposed between the first prism and the second prism; andthe first prism and the prism are positioned along an optical axisdefined by the lens group.